Al-Makura urges workers to resume work

Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has urged striking workers to resume work in the interest of peace and for the socio-economic development of the state.

Al-Makura made the appeal on Monday in Lafia during a meeting with some stakeholders to commemorate 18 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.

“As far as I am concerned, there is no strike in Nasarawa state now and any worker hiding in his bedroom is doing that at his or her own risk,” he however warned.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NLC Chairman in the state, Mr Abdullahi Adeka, had on May 26 announced the suspension of the strike, saying the state government has started implementing their demands.

However, on May 27, a factional NLC Chairman, Mr Bala Umar, asked workers to continue with the strike, insisting that the government was yet to meet up with their demands.

The workers are demanding for full payment of their salary arrears, promotion and enhanced condition of service.

Commenting on the development, the governor said that the meeting was aimed at appreciating, recognising and acknowledging the contributions of those that served and are still serving the state since when he assumed office in 2011.

Al-Makura said that the strike, which was embarked upon by the organised labour, has a political motive.

“As a matter of fact, the master minds behind the strike are people completely belonging from opposition political parties.

“The strike is only to sabotage government efforts; if not why is that children whose parents are APC, PDP, APGA, Labour Party, among others, want to be denied opportunity to studies.

“We thank the Ministry of Education and the government that make the necessary arrangement to make sure that the students study without hitches,” he said.

Al-Makura pointed out that his administration in the past six years have recorded landmark achievements in the areas of development in the state capital and with a drive in rural areas through the provision of basic social amenities and infrastructure to curb rural/urban migration.

He assured the stakeholders and the people of the state on his unalloyed drive for development which, according to him, has resulted to key infrastructural improvement.

“The contributions of various stakeholders in the state have help in bringing to success the gains of democracy which we all celebrate today,” he added.

According to him, since the birth of his administration, road network, construction of schools, hospitals and markets, among other key infrastructures, has in no small measure top government programmes.

The governor renewed the commitment of his administration to continue to create infrastructures that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.

NAN also reports that the meeting brought together past and present political office holders who served the state at various levels.